Flexible rotary reaming apparatus



June 17, 1952 J. E. TURNBAUGH FLEXIBLE ROTARY REAMING APPARATUS FiledApril 15, 1949 \nnnnfin'n ununnunnnuu nun HHHHH H HH HHHHH Hi E.TURNBAUGH 3nventot (Ittornegs JAMES FIG i atented June 17, 1952 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE FLEXIBLE ROTARY REAMING APPARATUS James E.Turnbaugh, Seattle, Wash.

Application April 15, 1949, Serial No. 87,621

Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in flexible rotary reamingapparatus and, more particularly, is the provision of a chuckingmechanism whereby a rotary snake or the like can be gripped and movedlongitudinally while the snake is rotated.

In cleaning sewer pipe and other conduits, and in wiring buildingstructures, the workmen often encounter considerable difiiculty inforcing their way through the conduits with long flexible snakes. Insimilar respect, difficulties are encountered in withdrawing the snakesdue to binding at the bends of the conduits or because of obstructions.rough projections or the like. The problems are particularly aggravatedwhere the snake is a rotary element that is constantly turned because inthis instance the workmen finds it difiicult, and sometimes injurious totheir hands, to grasp the rotating snake to pull or push it. The basisof the problem appears to lie in the fact that the snakes are smallsize, become slippery, and are otherwise not adapted to be manuallygrasped. In addition, even if they may be grasped by hand, the fact thatthey are usually rotating, means that the workman must be constantlyre-grasping or regripping the snake as it turns in his hand.

Having in mind the conditions of operation involved and the diflicultiespreviously encountered, it is a prime object of this invention toprovide a chuck for gripping rotary snakes to facilitate the applicationof manual force or produce longitudinal movement of the snake in eitherdirection while the snake is rotating.

Among other and important objects of the invention has been theprovision of a device of the type indicated which is simple toconstruct, easy to use, so adapted that it is easily disassembled forcleaning and overhaul, can be assembled and disassembled without the useof tools, will not injure the snake during gripping, will not impair theoperation of the snake 'even through substantial forces are beingapplied to pull the snake or push it relative the conduit, and whichwill instantly release a snake for altering the location of the chuck onthe snake or relieve it from endwise tension or compression.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent upon referenceto the following specification and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a view in side elevation of my snake-gripping deviceillustrating the apparatus as it appears in use in cleaning a conduitwith the latter shown in section for convenience of illustration;

Figure 2 is an enlarged'longitudinal sectional view of a forward portionof the snake-gripping means illustrating the construction and operatlonof the device;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1showing a slight modification; and

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken through the snake and handleon line 4-4 of Figure 1.

In overcoming the defects of the prior art and in carrying out theobjects of my invention, I provide a chuck that is designed to permitthe application of manual force to a flexible and rotary snakelongitudinal of its axis. The chuck comprises a casing of a size adaptedto be handled manually with ease and has a through bore of a size toreceive the rotary snake. Within the casing is a pair of spaced apartfree rotating collars and interposed between these collars is a thirdfree rotating collar, all of which encircle a snake inserted in thehousing. The first pair of collars is not normally displaceablelaterally of the casing, but the interposed collar can be displacedlaterally whereupon a rolling, gripping action is obtained on the snakebetween and among the collars. Means, including a presser element, isprovided on the casing to facilitate the lateral movement of theinterposed collar by manual pressure. In a preferred form of theinvention, the collars take the form of double race roller or ballbearing elements of standard construction.

More specifically, referring particularly to Figure 2, the inventionincludes a casing l0 having an axial passage l2 of a size to looselyaccommodate a snake S which is shown to be of the coiled wire variety.Interiorly, casing I0 is counterbored to form an enlarged cylindricalchamber M of a size to closely receive a pair of double race,free-rolling bearing elements or collars, I6 and [8, which may beintroduced through the side-wall slot 20 and be disposed one to eachside thereof.

A third free-rolling bearing element or collar, 22, is also introducedinto the chamber through the slot 20 to be interposed between bearingelements l6 and I8. Element 22 is retained in the casing by the springblade 2-4 that is mounted on screw 26 about which it may be swung torelieve the obstruction of slot 20 as when the bearings are being placedor removed. The collars I6, l8 and 22 may be roughened or knurled ontheir inner faces to increase their frictional engagement with the snakethat they are caused to grip. A resilient rubber sleeve 25 is shown inFigure 3 in lieu of blade 24 to retain collar 22 in place and to closeopening 20 of the casing.

Opposite slot'20 the casing is pierced by opening 28 to allow theintroduction into the chamber M of the extensible presser pin 30 that isactuated by handle 32. The latter handle is mounted to swing on pin 34that is supported by upstanding ears 36 that rise above the casing III.A

preferable presser pin 30 takes the form of a sleeve that is internallythreaded to receive bolt 3| which permits adjustment of the length ofthe pin 30 and the distance that it displaces collar 22 when the handle32 is pressed to casing ID. Lock nut.33 secures sleeve 30 and bolt 3| inadjusted length.

The rear end of casing 10 is interiorly threaded to receive the forwardend of tube 40, which makes it easier for a workman to grasp and handlethe tool.

In operation it is customary for snakes S to be rotated withconsiderable force by mechanical means (not shown), such as gearedelectric motors or comparable equipment. At the same time that the snakeis rotated, it is fed in or pulledout of the conduit to accomplish acleaning or reaming of the conduit or to remove it after such anoperation has been completed. 'It is with respect to the latterlongitudinal movement of the snake while it is rotating that myinvention particularly applies. To accomplish this, the operatorintroduces the snake through the extension ,40 and the central openingsof collars [6, I8 and 22 and out the bore Ill. The snake is then fedinto the conduit C which, for example, may be a drain conduit from asink or thelike. The snake is caused to rotate and is pressed into theconduit at the same time. When the going is easy, the introduction ofthe snake can often be accomplished merely by pressing it forward butwhen obstructions are encountered, my chuck'becomes particularly useful.The tool is grasped and the handle pressed toward the casing to causethe horn 30 to bear upon collar 22 and displace it laterally of thecollars l5 and I8. This results in a three-point gripping action uponthe snake with one side of the snake being borne upon at twospaced-apart points and the other side at a single point between theother two. Since the collars are free to rotate, no hindrance to thesnakes rotation is caused but at the same time, the snake is tightlychucked by the tool so that the operator can exert pressure forward onthe snake. In the case of roller or ball bearing collars, contact withsnake is made by the inner race and it turns freely with snake whilegripping is maintained with the rollers or balls reducing friction intheoperation.

As the snake enters the conduit C and the tool moves close to theend ofthe conduit, the workman merely releases the grip on the snake andwithdraws his tool along the snake to a point where he can take a newpurchase for further forward movement. Such continues until the cleaningoperation is completed.

When it is desired to pull on the snake, the foregoing describedoperation is repeated in reverse.

To disassemble the tool for cleaning or repair or the replacement ofparts, it is first removed from the snake. The blade 24 is swung out ofthe way, whereupon collar .or bearing 22 will come out of the casingthrough slot 20. Then one or the other of the collars or bearings [6 orI8 is moved longitudinally of the chamber [4 to alignment with slot 20and similarly removed. The same is done with the other collar. It willbe noted that such assembly can be performed without the use of anytools.

It will be seen that this chucking device is simple of construction, maybe easily serviced, cleaned or repaired, and can be formed lightly andyet strong and durable for the hard use to which it may be put. Obviousmodifications and changes in the arrangements of parts are contemplatedwithin the spirit and scope of the subjoined claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A movable chuck for gripping rotary snakes to facilitate theapplication of force longitudinal of the snake in either direction whilethe snake is rotating, comprising: a casing, of such size, weight andshape as to be conveniently held and ,manipulated in the hands of anoperator, having a longitudinal bore from end-to-end, a pair of freelyrotating collars mounted in said bore, with their axes in substantialalignment with the axis of said casing, a third freely rotatingcollar'interposed between said pair of collars with said pair of collarspositioned close to said third collar, said casing being adapted'topermit lateral movement of said third collar relative to said pair ofcollars, and presser means operable upon said third collar to laterallyshift the latter whereby a gripping action is imparted upon a snakepassing through said collars while permitting the snake to rotate withinsaid casing.

2.'The device according to claim 1 in which the freely rolling collarsare bearing elements, having double races and a plurality of rollingspacers interposed therebetween.

3. The deviceaccording to claim 1 in which the presser means tolaterally shift the interposed collar comprises a pivoted hand lever anda presser pin actuated thereby and passing into the casing to bear uponthe interposed collar.

4. The structure according to claim '1 including resilient meansoperable upon the third collar tobias the same to a non-grippingrelation relative to said pair of collars.

5. A movable chuck for gripping rotary, flexible snakes to facilitatethe application of force longitudinal of the snake in either directionwhile the snake is rotating and passing through conduits and the like,comprising: a casing, of such size, weight and shape as to beconveniently held in the hands, having a longitudinal bore fromend-to-end, said casing having a side slot giving access to the interiorthereof between its ends, a pair of freely rotating collars mounted insaid casing laterally immovable and positioned one on each side of saidslot with their axes in substantial alignment with the axis of saidcasing, a third freely rotating collar introduced into said casingthrough said slot and interposed between said pair of collars, saidthird collar being laterally movable relative to said first pair ofcollars, resilient means to retain'said third collar from displacementthrough said slot, and manually operable presser means upon saidthirdcollar to laterally shift the latter whereby a gripping action isimpartediupon a snake passing through said collars while permitting thesnake to rotate within said casing.

JAMES E. 'ITURNBAUGH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 599,089 Wrigley Feb. 15, 1898788,593 Olcott May 2', 1905 1,162,125 Bassett Nov. 30, 1915 1,880,431Goodall Oct. 4,1932 1,888,269 Her st Nov. 22,1932 2,033,670 ,Au r Mar.10, 1936 2,044,848 Hermanson June 23, 1936

